OU basketball: Isaiah Cousins has become a critical piece to OU's season

NORMAN — Isaiah Cousins has sometimes been the overlooked starter for Oklahoma this season.

Cousins doesn't score in a flashy way like Buddy Hield or Cam Clark; he doesn't put up double-doubles with toughness the way Ryan Spangler does; he doesn't get to the like Jordan Woodard.

Oklahoma's Isaiah Cousins (11) takes the ball past Baylor's Brady Heslip (5) during an NCAA men's college basketball game between Baylor and the University of Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. OU won, 88-72. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

But Cousins has been one of the most critical pieces for the Sooners in recent weeks as Oklahoma has moved closer to securing an NCAA Tournament berth with improved defense.

“He's just been harassing the point guard,” Hield said. “He knows his role, and we really appreciate what he's doing. He's setting the tone and getting everybody fired up.”

Spangler has been a tough interior presence defensively all season for the Sooners. But they've lacked a guard who provides similar skills on the perimeter, until Cousins stepped into the role.

“He's tough,” Hield said of the guard from Mount Vernon, N.Y. “With his background and where he came from, that's what they do. They play hard. He just keeps getting better and better.”

Sooners coach Lon Kruger said Cousins has had the physical skills to be a plus defender. It was just a matter of getting him to buy into that role.

“I think here lately he's embraced that role a little bit more,” Kruger said. “He's always taken pride in defense, but now he's taking a little more pride in meeting the ball and setting a tone out front and that's what's helped us defensively.”

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by Ryan Aber

OU Athletics Reporter

Ryan Aber has worked for The Oklahoman since 2006, covering high schools, the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the Oklahoma City Barons and OU football recruiting. An Oklahoma City native, Aber graduated from Northeastern State. Before joining The...